The Unrepentant by E.A. Aymar

The Unrepentant Reviews

• 
  Lou (nonfiction fiend)

  The Unrepentant is E.A. Aymar's first standalone thriller and is both a timely and timeless tale of courage, revenge and fighting for your life when all hope seems lost. It follows a truly gutsy protagonist, Charlotte Reyes and her reluctant rescuer, Mace Peterson, as they attempt to flee from a criminal gang. It's a dark, disturbing and unsettling read and is full of gripping action from start to finish. I particularly enjoyed Aymar's signature dry wit which accompanies the narrative and gives a much needed lighter tone at certain points throughout.
  
  This is a wonderfully woven, multilayered tale that you will remember long after the final page is turned. Mr Aymar gives us all of the aspects a great thriller should have and will no doubt keep even the most discerning reader entertained. If you are a fan of gritty and intense hard-boiled crime then pick this one up.
  
  Many thanks to Down & Out Books for an ARC.
• 
  Dave

  Aymar’s The Unrepentant Is an action-packed thriller that deftly handles difficult issues about human trafficking. The novel shows how young girls from broken homes are unknowingly recruited into selling themselves and how badly they are treated by those who are hiding in the shadows pulling the strings. No one deserves to be treated this way and the story of Charlotte is about one who decided to fight back.
  
  The literary/theatrical world is replete with crime fighting duos from Batman and Robin to Starsky and Hutch, but no duo has ever been more mismatched than Charlotte and Mace, an Iraqi War veteran who stumbles upon Charlotte’s bear-execution and plays the superhero even though he has no clue what if going on or what he’s brought into his life when he takes this young girl in.
  
  The story also grapples with what it does to a person to fight evil and what you have to become sometimes to meet violence with violence.
• 
  Tara

  Whoa. This book starts at 100 mph and never slows down. It's both brutal and touching, unflinching in its depiction of the horrors and trauma of sex trafficking and violence but never losing sight of humanity. These characters and their situations will haunt me for a long time. TRIGGER WARNINGS for sexual content, rape, and extreme violence.
• 
  Sarah

  A revenge tale that gripped me from the opening page. Mace stumbles upon a woman being dragged through the woods by men undoubtedly preparing to kill her. As a former soldier, he can’t stand by and do nothing so makes a decision that will forever change both of their lives. Nonstop action and dry wit make this edge-of-your-seat thriller impossible to put down. Charlotte is a hero you can root for: she’s tough, vulnerable, and funny. Mace is unexpectedly cautious for a soldier compared to relentless, young Charlotte which illustrates how multilayered every character is. Aymar explores the world of sex-trafficking with unflinching honesty and bravery. A gut-wrenching powerful read.
• 
  Scott Cumming

  I've always been impressed with E.A. (Ed) Aymar's short fiction that I have found around the web at sites such as Shotgun Honey and Yellow Mama, so there were hopes that this would be a great read and so it turned out to be.
  
  Mace is out walking trying to clear his head following an argument with his ex-wife when he comes across two men dragging a tied and bound woman from a van in a nearby wood. Mace decides to do the right thing and tackles the man left with Charlotte. It's thereafter he doesn't give much thought to.
  
  Charlotte has been dragged down into the world of prostitution and sex trafficking passed from man to man by the book's big bad, Barnes. He's an awful, terrifying figure at the centre of what is horrific backstory. Charlotte's backstory is unforgettable and goes further than the fiction as it's perfectly believable that there are plenty of women who have ended up in similar straits in reality.
  
  What elevates the book further is that every character gets some form of backstory included, which serves to add empathy even where perhaps none should be given. Along with this is the twisting of tropes with Mace being ex-military, but at times essentially useless eschewing the Reacher type hero and being filled with strong female characters including Mace's ex-wife Eve, who you initially feel will be the standard nagging ex-wife type, but grows to be much more during the course of the story.
  
  Aymar's action scenes are great too as they are methodical and allow you to picture the action smoothly. There's not a huge amount of them, but they are living on in my memory where usually I find some action scenes to be too fast and include a touch too much detail, Aymar seems to leverage the right amount of detail and pace to make the action and the violence linger cinematically.
  
  Aymar displays a full array of writing skill and talent in a thriller that is both timely and exciting. The world of sex trafficking is not explored to such a degree in the genre usually being the business, which props up bad guys, but here we see the devastation caused to the lives of women and one in particular. Highly recommend this as it works on multiple levels.
• 
  William Bentrim

  The Unrepentant by E.A. Aymar
  This book was hard to read due to the subject matter. Human trafficking is despicable and ostrich like, it is easier to put your head in the sand than to actually think about the horrific nature of selling people. The book is about a young girl kidnapped and forced into sexual slavery.
  The author did a very good job on making the subject utterly repugnant. His characterizations were brash and strong. Charlotte was astoundingly resilient. Mace demonstrated both humanity and need for repair after the fact. Barnes’ self-image as strictly a business man was the pinnacle of self-delusion.
  The book flows well and despite the topic it was a good read.
  
• 
  J.J. Hensley

  This is one of those books you read and can tell the a uthor poured his heart into the work. It’s fast-paced, deep, and has moments of humor and tenderness. Pick this one up immediately.
• 
  Cathy Geha

  The Unrepentant by E.A. Aymar
  
  Sex trafficking is a multi-billion dollar industry...or should I say racket? It forces people into positions they do not want to be in and more times than not causes physical and mental harm. As I read this book I thought about what it would be like to be more than one character and hoped I would have the strength that Charlotte had, the caring and courage that Dory had and the ability to help those that so needed it as I read through the book.
  
  The opening scene was compelling and grabbed me immediately and once caught I could not stop reading till the wee hours of the morning. More than once I wanted to step inside the pages and smack someone or help another...it was gripping. The mentality it must take to be a trafficker is something I can’t seem to wrap my mind around. I think part of it is money and part of it is lacking conscience and perhaps it also has to do with being more than a little bit sadistic.
  
  Anyway…
  
  Did I enjoy this book? Yes...though the topic was a toughie
  Would I read more by this author? Yes
  
  I did feel the ending was a bit abrupt UNLESS this is the first book in a series. I wanted resolution for Mace and Eve and I wanted to know how Charlotte would end up. And yet, in life the people we meet don’t always let us know what will happen and this way I can make up an ending, a happy one, of my own for those left standing at the end of the book.
  
  Thank you to NetGalley and Down & Out Books for the ARC – This is my honest review.
  
  4.5 Stars
• 
  Cheryl

  E.A. Aymar is a new to me author. Yet, I was drawn to this book by the subject matter of human trafficking. It is a subject matter that is very important and needs more awareness. Yet, thanks to authors like Mr. Aymar and books like this; this topic will gain more awareness. I am all for more advocates for stopping human trafficking.
  
  Mr. Aymar mentions in the author note that most women don't come into prostitution like Charlotte; but the painful; sense of identity loss and subsequent emotional repercussions are real. I thought Mr. Aymar displayed these things very well in this book. It really brought Charlotte's struggle and her determination to be a fighter that more real. She is the true star of this book.
  
  Where Mace is concerned; his character surprised me. Having a military background, I felt and expected him to be a protector and fighter as well. Yet, he was more of a bystander. Mr. Aymar pens a book that readers needs to pick up a copy and read with The Unrepentant!
• 
  Chris Rhatigan

  The rave reviews are accurate. This is a thriller that gets its hooks in you and doesn't let go. There's also a refreshing amount of focus on character in a genre where that's uncommon.
• 
  Alex Dolan

  I've always had a soft spot for writers who aren't afraid to tackle sensitive subject matter, and E.A. Aymar has found a was to tell a story about sex traffic in a way that doesn't pander or exploit. Instead, he focuses on telling the story of someone who was in the trade, who was forever changed by it, and finds her own way to get past it. All of this is told within a compelling thriller at a feverish pace. If you took out the social context, the characters are fascinating and well-drawn, and the book is a very entertaining way to develop an original spin on the vigilante hero. But Aymar deeply cares about his characters, and he's mindful to flesh them out as real people, so he can create depth to what could have just been an action thriller. Don't miss this one.
• 
  Greg Levin

  Mr. Aymar takes on one of the darkest topics plaguing humanity and explores some devastating truths—AND makes you ... laugh?
  
  Yup.
  
  But not in the "ha ha ha, that's hilarious" way—rather in the "there's so much pain and rawness here, it must be a joke" kind of way. Few authors would tackle such a dark and dismal topic—sex trafficking and human exploitation—and dare to allow humor to enter into the picture. Aymar not only dares, he succeeds.
  
  No reader who's paying attention can accuse the talented author of making light of the horrors broached in this bold novel. Every reader, hopefully, will get what's he's trying to accomplish and, more importantly, tell others they must read this book to affect change.
  
  Highly recommended. An obligatory book.
• 
  Ross Cumming

  I hadn’t previously heard of, or read any of E. A. Aymar’s output before I decided to read The Unrepentant but I will definitely be seeking out more of his work, as this is possibly the best novel I’ve read this year.
  Mace, an ex-army reservist, is out for a late night walk when he comes across two men unloading a female from the boot of their car and carrying her into the woods obviously intent on killing her and disposing of her body. Mace intervenes and he and the girl Charlotte escape but this is just the start of a nightmare journey in which they must evade the clutches of gang boss Barnes and his crew which also includes a crooked cop. Mace enlists the help of his ex-wife and lawyer Eve and also her friend Dory, who works with a network who assist girls to escape the sex trade to safety. However Barnes wants to make an example of Charlotte and wants her back but Charlotte herself feels that to run is to surrender and she would prefer retribution.
  I found that I became totally engrossed in this novel and devoured it in a couple of days, as I just couldn’t put it down. The writing is great and reminds me of George Pelecanos ,maybe this is because of the geographical location of the novel which is set in the Baltimore, Maryland area which is not too far removed from the setting of his novels. Aymar has written great backstories for most of his characters, including the bad guys and he managed to draw empathy from me for these characters too , as they were as much victims of their circumstance as was Charlotte. The common thread being that they both shared was that they came from abusive family backgrounds Aymar also created a chilling baddie in the form of Barnes who sees himself as a businessman and merely supplying a ‘product’ for which there is demand and if he doesn’t do it then someone else will. He is physically large and iimposing who dishes out punishment at will but he can also be calm and persuasive which is equally chilling.
  I honestly can’t praise this novel enough and I can’t wait to delve into the rest of E. A. Aymar’s canon.
• 
  Penni Jones

  Charlotte Reyes has been kidnapped, beaten, and raped repeatedly. And she’s only eighteen years old. Former soldier Mace Peterson happens upon Charlotte during her escape attempt, and in a split-second decision, he aids her escape and puts himself in the path of ruthless, evil men.
  
  Charlotte quickly realizes that escaping isn’t enough. She’ll have to kill every man involved so he can’t harm more women. Mace doesn’t support her plan, especially when she puts his ex-wife in danger with her recklessness. But he’s in too deep to step away, and together they’ll get the revenge that Charlotte so desperately needs.
  
  E.A. Aymar’s The Unrepentant is unflinchingly dark and brutal. Both main characters suffer from PTSD, and there’s no shortage of violence. But there are surprising moments of comic relief.
  
  Aymar never shames or victim-blames Charlotte, and this simple fact makes this brutal story digestible. And when Charlotte begins her quest for revenge, the story remains tense but also becomes wickedly fun.
  
  Girls and women are trafficked every single day. I hope more authors give them voices and stories that aren’t steeped in shame. Charlotte is a victim, but more than that she’s a survivor.
• 
  Sharon

  Mace Peterson is a disabled war veteran whose PTSD cost him his marriage. The story opens when he happens on a young girl being attacked in the woods by two thugs. Despite the odds, Mace intervenes and helps free the girl, Charlotte Reyes, who turns out to be quite a fighter herself. His first instinct is to report the incident to the cops, but Charlotte won't let him. One of the men who has been holding her against her will is a cop.
  Like it or not, Mace stays involved in Charlotte's life as she tries to elude the men who want to kill her. He drags his ex-wife, Eve, and her friend Dory, a victim's advocate, into the web of danger. Charlotte goes from deception and distrust to opening up and asking for help. She's also hell-bent on revenge.
  This book is not for the faint-hearted, as it exposes the ugly, violent side of sex trafficking in graphic detail. Parts were painful to read. Most of the bad guys are unrepentant, as the title says. The ending is sad, with just a small glimmer of hope.
  
• 
  Beau Johnson

  I've read where it's said that a protagonist is only as good as its villain. Something along that line anyway. The man in question? This Big Bad in Ed Aymar's The Unrepentant? Dude's name is Barnes. And hoo-boy, did I dislike this ahole. Which is a testament to Ed's ability in getting me to turn the page. It also helped that I felt for Charlotte and Mace too, and that I was rooting for them to survive, but yeah, it was me looking forward to Barnes's eventual demise that spurned me on. There is also the content within this book, human trafficking, which, if I'm honest, is hard to write about. It's rampant in this world of ours, with most turning a blind eye to how much it goes down, but Ed neither turns from this or exploits it. That's a tough line to ride, but again, Ed here pulls it off with what looks like ease but probably wasn't. Anyway, I digress. You know what that means? It means you should go forth, seek out, purchase and enjoy. Tell 'em another lover of crime fiction sent you.
• 
  Susie Dumond

  After running away from an abusive home, Charlotte was kidnapped and sex trafficked by a dangerous group of men, including a dirty cop. She manages to escape with the help of a stranger named Mace. But as the men try to find and kill her, and knowing that the police can't be trusted to help, Charlotte realizes her only chance at survival is stopping her captors herself.
  
  This story is dark and dangerous and tense. The characters and plot are both very strong. Obviously the subject matter here is very heavy (tw for rape, kidnapping, child sex abuse, physical abuse, violence), but I really appreciate that Aymar was upfront about the research he did on sex trafficking. He obviously takes this issue seriously; it's not just used as a thrilling plot device. Charlotte's character is multifaceted and well thought out, and her journey kept me on the edge of my seat.
• 
  GSMC Book Review Podcast

  I wasn't sure when I read the blurb how I might react to this book, due to its dark subject matter. I worried that it would be incredibly heavy and depressing. Aymar does an amazing job, though, of creating a story that deals with its subject matter and characters with warmth, humor, and insight. The characters are human and flawed, which makes them easier to relate to. On the other side of the equation, Aymar does not shy away from the darker aspects of the story, either. There are parts that are difficult to read, but nothing ever felt gratuitous. Thrillers of this ilk aren't for everyone, but even if you aren't usually a fan of the genre, this is a great book that had me hooked until the end.
• 
  Shannon Kirk

  Aymar is one talent that can take on the serious topic of human trafficking in a meaningful way, and yet in fiction. Not an easy task. His characters are multi-dimensional and masterfully constructed. I also liked his thoughtful consideration of a character with depression—something he pulls off in an accurate and educational way, and yet also entertaining. And above all else, there is nothing better than a full-throttle, take no mercy, slam a man’s head in a van door multiple times without batting an eye revenge thriller where the girl burns it all down. Nothing. Much respect The Unrepentant. Not everyone could pull all of this together and so well. But Aymar sure did.
• 
  Wayward Readers Book Blog

  Thank you to #NetGalley for this ARC of #TheUnrepentant
  
  A dynamic novel that not only gives the reader all the hard edges of a thriller but offers a view of a young woman's identity crisis and trauma after escaping years of sexual abuse. The author's broad range of characters host an alluring and multidimensional dynamic that broadens the scope of this novel. The story is dark and anticipatory as the reader is taken on an action filled narrative surrounding a young woman's will to survive. Great read. 5 stars
• 
  Christine Durham

  So, I finally finished this book...I wasn't thrilled about it and can't really say I enjoyed it.. I almost gave up at %25 because I couldn't get past the way it was written. The words didn't flow...the details were in weird places..i didn't connect with the characters..But then I decided to finish it anyway. I enjoyed the fights that took place and the fact that the main character wanted revenge was believable because she had nothing to lose and nothing to live for.. It took that author too long to let us know that. So I really can't recommend this book but didn't hate it either
• 
  Books Forward

  E.A. Aymar has such a strong presence in the mystery/thriller/suspense genre world. I was not disappointed with his newest book! I couldn't stop myself from reading about Charlotte and Mace and how they continued to fight against the criminals who treated Charlotte so cruelly. While revenge was a huge theme in the book, I appreciated the subtle theme of forgiveness between the brothers. Very well done, so impressed by Aymar's craft!
• 
  Kathryn Notestine

  Between feeling sympathy for the main character Charlotte and also cheering her on against the disturbingly (and incredibly well-written) bad guys and also fearful of those bad guys, I was on an emotional rollercoaster. It was an intimidating and accurate book about the really important topic of sex-trafficking; I couldn't put it down.
• 
  Mark Petry

  If you like a fast read, this is the book for you. I usually read one book per month but I finished this one in a week. The story moves at a brisk pace leaving out all the boring unneeded descriptions that most novels use as 'filler'. Good story with great characters. I'm curious if Aymar will have a sequel to this one... I hope so!
• 
  Marissa DeCuir

  The Unrepentant was a terrific thriller about crime and revenge. There was always something lurking behind every corner and every chapter seemed to end on a cliffhanger leaving me incapable of putting the book down! I am a huge fan of E.A. Aymar. Can't wait for his next book!
• 
  Cassie

  The premise of this book made it seem like it was going to be an on the edge of your seat thriller and it fell flat. The beginning was captivating but it dragged and was repetitive in the middle and made me lose interest.